Delaying the Real World

by Colleen Kinder

Delaying the Real World: A Twentysomething's Guide to Seeking Adventure

Genres: Travel, Self Help, Nonfiction, Reference, Adventure

240 pages, Paperback

First published January 2, 2005

Reviews

[Benji · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alright, it's been three years since this puppy showed up in my life : what results?

--Done the Ironman
--Bought the map to bike across the USA, and the bike and the bike trailer, didnt yet do the bike
--Joined Peace Corps 2x


Still left to do:
--WWOOFing in Italy/Switzerland/Germany (working on a farm for 2-4 weeks)
--USA Road Trip
--Round the World plane ticket
--being a token white person on a movie set in Egypt/India/Nigeria (though I could try to do it in Ourzazate! I know people that have done this, and gotten big bucks)

[kylajaclyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Colleen Kinder, author of this book, wants you to carpe diem. And carpe the heck out of each diem, you should. But I felt that for all the excellent website and fellowship listings (some of which I had never heard of), it's just a little off-putting to hear another book extoll the atrocities of working in a cubicle. Kinder herself says that there are so many different job possibilities out there. And that's the truth. So why does everyone assume that 22-year-olds graduate from college and instantly start work in an office? Maybe the less creative types do. But then again, some people are happy with those jobs, and we need people to do them. As I've gotten older I have wanted nothing more than a stable job. Kinder doesn't seem to believe that vacation days exist. I want to be a counselor now, and I know that one of my previous therapists seemed to take plenty of nice vacations with her family. The point, however cliched, is to make your life count however you can, and that's not always related to travel. I never would have admitted that before, but I guess I'm just sick of whining about how bad my life is in the States. Is it really that awful? No. And vacations are still travel. In this economy, it's nothing to be ashamed of to want a steady job. It's all about how you fill the in-between spaces and time as well. I have learned the hard way that being miserable about the life you currently have will not get you overseas any faster. Intention is everything. And I fully intend to travel in my life, even if it still takes another five to ten years. No preachy book on travel needed.

[Shayla · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall I really liked this. I think ill end up buying it because there's a lot of useful tips and information in this book. I only had 2 problems with this it: First of all, I did not like the author for some reason. I just found her tone kind of annoying, not her fault since im sure she's a nice lady. Second, this really is a book about delaying the real world. You get the feeling that the people referenced in the book all-- every one of them-- graduated from college and will most likely end up working for some boring company or whatever after their adventures are fun. Plus in the first chapter I was very confused because a lot of it was about getting internships with slightly interesting companies which really isn't delaying the real world at all. But really as a college dropout who wants an entire life of adventure, for adventure to BE the real world, it was all kind of off-putting, like I was reading about people who will be in their 40s and 50s reminiscing about the 2 years in their 20s where they were a little wild and impulsive. Also, all the voices of the people writing about their amazing lives felt exactly the same, like the author had written them all or something. Just an observation.

Everything else was good. The organization of topics was great. And the author voiced a lot of things I've felt, like how I have the freedom to do what I want, go where I want, and how people always say they want to travel in the future without realizing that it will get so much harder to do so once college is over and their career kicks off.

Something that sort of confused me though was a quote from one of the people who contributed their story. They said "This is not 'delaying' the path. This is the path. This IS the real world." I loved that quote so much that I underlined it in my library book. But my question is this: if this is the real world, why the heck does this book have the title DELAYING the Real World, as though everyone has to become a 9 to 5 zombie at some point? Just something that bothered me.

Anyway, I thought this book was good and well-researched, but I kind of wish someone else had written it.

"Why should you hesitate to pursue something you care so much about? Just because your pursuit is pleasurable doesn't mean it shouldn't be taken seriously."

[Lauren H · Rating 2 out of 5]

i suppose if i could get away with telling people to go work on farms in new zealand after graduation, and sell my "wisdom" at $13 a pop, i'd be able to delay the real world, too.

i was hoping this would be my freedom, my guiding beacon of hope to save me from the monotony of a cubicle. sadly, i think i'm just helping out colleen kinder and her life of luxurious non-responsibility.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Looking for a book with the most trustworthy/reliable sources for travel/living abroad? 5 stars for its recommendations and tidbits of advice.

Looking for a motivational book for traveling/living abroad? 2 stars. The peppy voice saying "you should totally go travel" was pretty annoying to me.

I figure the 2 & 5 star ratings average out to a rating of 3.5.

[Kaila · Rating 3 out of 5]

Shows it’s age a bit but has some neat ideas and the base message is still rock solid. It’s a good quick read and can help provide some food for thought if you’re not sure what your next step is in life.

[Courtney Pantone · Rating 3 out of 5]

Can’t blame this book too much, I’m already out of college working as a nurse and i can’t see myself getting some of these jobs but I love the ideas of adventure and volunteering! A lot of good resources.

[abbycookrn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best book ever. Changed my life. Seriously.

[Kyle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good resource for those that want a book experience. This is pretty much a well curated Google search

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish I had read a book like this in my twenties! It really opens your mind to possibilities outside of getting roped into an office job right out of college, and encourages young people to go after their passions before having responsibilities and settling down into adulthood.

[Angelo Gamez · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are not to sure of what life after college will be like but you're sure that you do not want to live an average life and work a nine to five job then this is the book for you! It expands your horizons and knowledge of the oppurtunites available to us. From it being studying abroad or working on a cruise ship through the Bahamas this book is the perfect guide to help you plan your cost. It gives great examples on how you can fund your trip and the ways you can get the most out of it! It is a great book and I would truly recommend it ! The book has a preppy theme through out it so you're always engaged and motivates you to want to go! In my case I am actually going to go out and bike/hike for the first thanks to this book and take my knowledge that I have gained through this book with me.

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars.

I would have given this book 5 stars if only it was more resent. Still it is a fantastic book about living your best and most adventurous life after college graduation. It gives practical advice and direction to all the unconventional ideas you have swimming around your hear. Maybe you want to live abroad or commit to a year long service project across the country. It has stories, websites, and all sorts of resources to kick start you adventures.

What I love most about this book is it made me passionate again. It made me believe that I really can travel the world and my own country. It gave me a reminder that i don't have to live an "ordinary life" but I must live MY life the way I want to.

Happy Travels!

[The Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book and gives lots of examples of ways to take the path less traveled on. Which is a good thing. There are a number of different chapters geared towards all sorts of interests. Some I just skimmed because it wasn't my thing.

Pros: it does offer a number of web sites and organizations to help research what choices and options may be available to you.

Cons: This book is 90% geared towards someone just graduating college. I would have liked some more stories or options for people who have had a few years experience in the "real world."

[Mary J · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best parts about this book?
1. It definitely gives you the kick in the butt you need to pursue something beyond the desk job life.
2. It reminds you how many opportunities there are out there. We young people tend to think that there are wayyy less opportunities for us than there actually are!
3. The coolest part to me: it doesn't only inspire you, but gives you actual links and resources to look into. I wrote down all the links and may even look into some when I finish my year of school!
I hope an updated version comes out soon, hopefully not too much of the info is outdated!

[Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

they definitely begin to beat a much dead, proverbial horse by the end of this book, but the point is great nonetheless. definitely encouraging and inspiring to not live life in a well formulated and path taken sort of way. it's chock full of many diverse and realistic ideas for a "gap year" or even a series of productive adventures. anyone wanting "a little more from life" should at least give this one a once over.

[Andy Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

I learned that the world is very small. You can find a job anyplace you want in this amazing world. Just have to have the get up and go. Leave everything behind and follow your dreams. Right now, being single, young and childless, I CAN leave and work in China, work in Egypt, visit friends in far off lands. This book helps young 20 somethings find opportunities to pay for it and or ideas to make it happen.

[Emma Craven · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book had loads of information (though mostly outdated) that I could have used when I was in college. My advice to anyone still in college and not wanting a 9-5 cubicle desk job right after graduation, GET THIS BOOK. It made me realize that I made a mistake in settling down into monotony right after college but it also gave me the courage to right my wrongs and plan a future I can be happy with.

[Alexi · Rating 3 out of 5]

My relationship with this book is love/hate. The idea is perfect, the thoughts behind each segment are beautiful, and I enjoyed being reminded of the options I have before me. That being said, the author gets too familiar with the reader and in doing so pushed me away from the narrative and stories.
This book is also fairly dated, and many of the resources, stories, and suggestions provided are no longer relevant or existing.

[Carla Jean · Rating 4 out of 5]

Way to put ideas in my head, Colleen! This caught my eye at the library, and I thought to myself, "I'm delaying the real world--involuntarily--anyway. I might as well get some ideas for how to make this time productive." Talk about ideas... this little guide offers tips on traveling the world, finding unusual internships, using your creative abilities... and how to fund it all. --notes from 2005

[Jacob · Rating 3 out of 5]

encouraging reading. helpful resources for brainstorming alternatives for employment, volunteer, study, at home and abroad. don't be fooled by the title. this is the real world. there is nowhere outside it.

[Lucia]

The woman who ran the NGO I volunteered for in Cambodia (The PEPY Ride [http://www.pepyride.org]), writes a blog for the website of this book, and that's how I found out about it...

Always good to get some more ideas about what else is out there, and learn from other peoples' adventures.

[Jason Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was incredibly influential for me, helping me realize how many opportunities are out there, and that all I have to do is grab on. Things that seem obvious, and that in my head I already knew, where made more vivid for some reason.

[Courtney · Rating 3 out of 5]

My problem with this book is that some of the suggestions aren't very specific. The positions described are sometimes not applicable to everyone, are specific to work experience, or they are just vague mentions. Interesting look at what can be done with a little ingenuity and some work.

[Rcowden · Rating 4 out of 5]

Delaying the real world is probably a good call.

[lola · Rating 1 out of 5]

Let me sum up this book for you: Think about the peace corps, man. Okay, now stop. Here's your suit.

[Katelyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great to read in your college years. Something I learned too late.

[Marisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

wow, makes you want to get up and go!

[Carrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh dudes, I am SO going back to London.
Maybe.

[Leora · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amazing resource....

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

ignited my wanderlust again